He has pitched in 717 regular-season games through 15 major-league seasons, and has made three postseason appearances, including two with the New York Yankees in 2006 and 2007.

He’s earned close to $12 million.

Why then, is Villone, at age 40, still kicking around the minor leagues with the Syracuse Chiefs, hoping for one more shot at baseball’s highest level?

"My arm is telling me I can still play," Villone said. "It feels good. The rest of the body is what I’ve got to work on."

Villone, who signed as a free agent with Syracuse’s parent club, the Washington Nationals, in 2009, pitched a scoreless inning during the Chiefs’ 8-2 loss to Pawtucket Thursday night at Alliance Bank Stadium.

It was another step in his attempt to recover from a right quadriceps muscle tear suffered during spring training this year. Villone has pitched through the injury.Villone file

Syracuse Chiefs pitcher Ron Villone is a major-league veteran who has played with 12 big-league clubs.

"I haven’t been hurt this serious in quite a long time. It’s slowed me down," he said. "I’m almost back to where I need to be, but that’s a battle in itself."

Statistically, Villone hasn’t been very effective overall. He has a 2-2 record with a 5.97 earned run average. He’s allowed 38 hits in 31 2/3 innings, with 21 walks and 16 strikeouts. The last two times he pitched at Alliance Bank Stadium before Thursday, the first batter he faced he a home run.

But Villone perseveres.

"I don’t think my age tells me where I am in my career," he said. "I think my desire to pitch and the idea that I can still compete and be successful in some sense, keeps me going. I think I still have something to contribute.

"Not once have I questioned myself on why I’m here, because I know why I’m here," he said. "I can question myself on ‘Why didn’t I execute that pitch?’ or ‘How could I lay a fat one right down the middle?’ But I don’t question myself on why I’m here — ever. If I did that, then I would be cheating my teammates."

Chiefs manager Trent Jewett says Villone brings more than his pitching talent to the table. He said his younger pitchers could learn a lot just by picking Villone’s brain.

"He brings a veteran influence who has an understanding of how to get through a career," Jewett said. "He’s extended his career beyond the norm. I think its due to willpower and desire and natural ability."

Villone knows he’s the perfect role model for this teammates.

"I have an appreciation and respect for the game that’s a lot different than it was 15 years ago," he said. "I have an understanding of basic things, maybe, the younger guys haven’t learned yet, like what goes into getting ready for a game, the postgame routine, how you need to take care of yourself, eat right and sleep right. Maybe, I can tell the guys a little secret now and then."

Syracuse pitching coach Greg Booker almost considers Villone a second pitching coach.
"He helps monitor things down in the bullpen. He keeps guys in line," Booker said. "He just has a presence about him. He’s very valuable in that regard."

Villone says coaching could be in his future, but all he’s concerned about now is pitching.

"I think he’s a realistic guy who understands when he’s pitching good and when he should be pitching better," Jewett said. "I think he understands his stuff and he knows what he wants to do with his stuff."

Jewett said as long as Villone believes he can compete, he’ll keep running him out to the mound.

"I do think he’s got significant injuries that he’s just trying to fight through. If it was an arm it would be a different situation. If it was a younger player it’d be a different because you’d just shut him down and let the injury completely heal.

"But that’s not what he wants to do," Jewett said. "In this situation, that’s his choice. That’s not a choice you make for him."

Red Sox 8, Chiefs 2
Pawtucket scored five runs in the second inning and made them hold up behind winning pitcher Kris Johnson.

The left-hander allowed four hits and one run in six innings with six strikeouts while improving his record to 4-7.

The Chiefs fell to 51-41 in their first game after the all-star break. They fell three games behind North Division leader Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the International League standings.

Gil Velazquez had two hits and three runs batted in for the Red Sox, who totaled 14 hits in the game off five Syracuse pitchers.